Means for crushing or fracturing disposable containers



April 7, 1970 H. J. QUALHEIM 3,504,621

MEANS FOR CRUSHING OR FRACTURING DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS Filed April 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f/YVE/YTG)? HAROLD J. QuA L HE/M April 7, 1970 H. J. QUALHEIM MEANS FOR CRUSHING OR FRACTURING DISPOSABLE CONTAINERS Filed April 22, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE/YTUR HA ROLD 1 QUALHE/M BY US. Cl. 10096 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for compacting or crushing discardable containers, such as metal cans, bottles and other frangible objects. A plurality of opposed sets of rollers engage the object which passes between them and which is finally deposited in a receptacle for disposal.

An accumulation of empty metal cans, bottles, cartons, wood crates and miscellaneous containers of various materials waiting to be discarded, often occupies valuable space that is needed for other purposes. To dispose of such objects without crushing them or reducing their volume puts a burden upon waste-disposal departments of municipalities. Space for the deposit of rubbish is becoming increasingly limited, so the compacting of such waste material is desirable in order to conserve space.

An object therefore of this invention is to provide a means of compacting, crushing or fracturing containers that are to be discarded, so that they will occupy a greatlyreduced space.

Another object is to provide a crushing or fracturing machine that will accept containers having a wide range of sizes.

Another object is to provide a machine that will compact, crush or fracture containers of various materials.

Another object is to provide a machine having a positive means of engaging a container so as to effectively convey it through the crushing or compacting cycle.

Another object is to provide a machine that embraces a series of crushing elements that define a converging passageway therebetween, and through which the container passes during the process of crushing.

Another object is to provide a machine having crushing or compacting elements so constructed as to permit them to yield during the passage of the container therethrough.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed, but includes all such variations as fall within the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine looking downwardly through the chamber.

FIG. 2 is a section taken at 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of one of the upper rollers showing the construction thereof.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the resilient rollers.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the upper rollers embracing a modification.

FIG. 6 is a section taken at 6-6 of FIG. 5.

A typical machine embracing this invention comprises a frame or casing 10 having side plates 12 and 14. End plates 16 and 18 are secured to side plates 12 and 14 by bolts such as 20, so as to define a downwardly-converging chamber 21.

United States Patent 0 M 3,504,621 Patented Apr. 7, 1970 A plurality of opposed pairs, of rigid rollers 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, and 32 are mounted in pairs, each pair being spaced below the preceding pair as shown in FIG. 2. However, it is within the purview of the invention to employ more or a less number of rollers if desirable. In this instance, each pair of rollers is positioned in a horizontal plane. The axes of each set of rollers is spaced apart in their respective planes so that as they rotate in the direction of the arrows, their effective peripheries preferably define a downwadly-converging passageway.

Rollers 22 through 32 each comprise a shaft 34 which is journalled at each end in roller bearings 36, one of which is shown in FIG. 1. These bearings are mounted in suitable openings in side plates 12 and 14.

Rollers 22 and 24 are identical, and comprise a cylindrical drum 38. End plates 40 are positioned at each end of the drum 38, and are provided with a circular groove 42 machined in the face thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. Drum 38 is welded or otherwise secured in the groove to provide support for the drum normal to the axis of shaft 34. Plates 40 have a central bore to receive shaft 34 which is welded thereto. A plurality of longitudinal ribs 44, four in this instance, are circumferentially spaced about drum 38 and welded thereto and to plates 40.

The construction of rollers 26 and 28 is similar to that of rollers 22 and 24 with the exception that rollers 26 and 28 are provided with five ribs 46.

Rollers 30 and 32 are resilient, and in this instance comprise a drum 48 concentric with shaft 34. The space between shaft 34 and the inner surface of drum 48 is filled with a resilient yieldable material 50, such as rub her or similar material, in order to permit the rollers to yield normal to their axes and circumferentially during the final steps of the crushing or compacting process. A means of providing additional resiliency comprises providing longitudinal passageways 52 in the resilient material 50, and which are spaced about shaft 34 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. A plurality of projections or ribs 54, preferably eight in this instance, are welded or otherwise fixed to the periphery of the drum 48. Rollers 30 and 32 are so positioned that the ribs 54 overlap circumferentially as shown in FIG. 2.

It is within the spirit of this invention to vary the number of ribs carried by the various rollers and to also modify their design. One modification is shown in FIG. 5, wherein roller 56 has a modified rib 58. Ribs 58 have acute leading edges and are provided with vertices such as at 60 terminating in leg portions 62 and 64 which diverge toward plates 40. Thus a container being compacted or crushed will be urged centrally toward the vertex 60, and thus be guided through the chamber 20 centrally of the rollers.

It is within the spirit of this invention to employ all rollers of the type indicated 22 through 28, or the type indicated 30 and 32, or various combinations of them as desired.

Rollers 22 through 32 are all rotated downwardly toward each other in the directions shown by the arrows in FIG. 2.

The means of rotating the rollers 22 through 32 is indicated at 66 of FIG. 1, and comprises gears 68 which are secured to shafts 34 and includes suitable idler gears. A chain-and-sprocket arrangement 70 conveys power from a suitable motor which is not shown. Other details of the means of rotating the rollers are not described as they are conventional and not a part of the invention.

A container C, prior to passing through the machine, is shown in FIG. 2 by dotted lines. The final treatment of the container C is indicated between rollers 30 and 32 where it is finally compacted prior to its deposit in a receptacle.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A means of compacting or crushing containers or similar objects, comprising, in combination a frame defining a chamber, a plurality of opposed rigid rollers and a plurality of opposed resilient rollers journalled in said chamber, each of said rigid rollers having peripherally-spaced longitudinal projections axially co-extensive therewith, said rigid rollers terminating axially in end plates normal to the axes of said rollers, said plates being of a diameter in excess of that of said rollers, each of said resilient rollers comprising a shaft, a drum co-axial with said shaft and defining a peripheral space surrounding said shaft, radial support for said drum with respect to said shaft, comprising resilient material filling said space, and peripherally-spaced longitudinal projections integral With said drum and co-extensive therewith.

2. The means set forth in claim 1, in which said longitudinal projections have a central vertex with leg portions diverging in the direction of rotation of said rollers, and having an acute leading edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS BILLY J. WILHITE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

29121; l0Ol72, 176; 24l99, 159 

